Cheers to the 4th Edition: Comparing the Stylus for M44G with Paul McCartney’s New Album “The Boys of Dungeon Rain”!

Cheers to the 4th Edition
Comparing the Stylus for M44G
with Paul McCartney’s New Album The Boys of Dungeon Rain!

Dear few and far-between readers of my blog. I am Masayuki Ichihara, a record-loving member of the Sound House Sales Department. I apologize for continuing to be as handsome as ever.

This blog series compares replacement styli for Shure’s M44G record cartridge by listening to them with classic rock albums. I have continued the series without ever knowing whether it is well received or not. This time, a friend suggested, “Why not do the next one with Paul’s new album?” So, following my comparison using the Beatles’ album Revolver, US original pressing, I would like to compare two M44G-compatible styli using Paul McCartney’s latest album, The Boys of Dungeon Rain.

The Shure M44G cartridge has captivated countless listeners for nearly half a century, not only for DJ use but also for listening. Sadly, production and supply came to an end around 2018. In the meantime, Nagaoka, one of Japan’s leading record stylus manufacturers, and the up-and-coming DJ equipment brand 100Sounds have added compatible replacement styli to their lineups!
So, what differences are there in the sound characteristics between Nagaoka’s and 100Sounds’ replacement styli for this legendary M44G cartridge? I will be putting them to the listening (and effectiveness) comparison test with Paul McCartney’s latest album!
Incidentally, the author of this blog is more of a fan of Paul’s solo work than the Beatles. I am particularly attached to his albums from the 1980s onward and the works of his pseudonymous project The Fireman, so please understand in advance that the song titles I use as examples will probably be mostly solo songs!

First, let me briefly introduce the styli I will be using this time!

Nagaoka / DJ-44G - Replacement Stylus for M44G/M44-7

This model is said to achieve a powerful sound pressure and a powerful sound with a delicate wide range. It is great for listening closely, and its sound quality is also exciting for DJing! I always listen to the longest 12-inch version of “Once Upon A Long Ago” and the B-side “Back On My Feet” with this one!

100Sounds / RS-44-100B2 - Replacement Stylus for M44G/M44-7

This model has been arranged with modern sound in mind, so depending on the track, it can even give older numbers an effect that makes them fit with today’s club sound! Blasting “Good Sign” from the 12-inch of “This One” or the 12-inch of “Deliverance” with this one gives me an unbeatable feeling of happiness!

Now, regarding the vinyl edition of Paul McCartney’s new album The Boys of Dungeon Rain, various versions have been released depending on the retailer, mainly in colored vinyl. While it certainly appealed to my collector’s instincts, as a salaried worker with a family, I had to consider my wallet, so I ended up buying just one copy. In Japan, Toshiba Music Industries, which released Beatles works, sold records in a red-colored format known as ‘red vinyl’, so I decided to go with the familiar red-colored pressing for Paul’s new album as well!

There may be differences in sound depending on the color of the vinyl, but I often see posts on social media of people playing the red pressing, so apparently quite a few people are listening to the same pressing. I hope this will be useful for anyone who has been inspired by this album to track down the legendary M44G and give it a listen, as well as those who already own an M44G and are still considering these two styli!

Well then, let’s drop the stylus and get started!!

1. As You Lie There

You might expect this to be a soft number that starts with Paul singing after speaking over an ambient, Brian Eno-like sound, but the way it suddenly turns into an emotionally raw minor-key piano pop song in the development section, almost like the coda of “I Want You To Fly,” is truly thrilling. The fact that Paul is on drums is also key. So, what happens when we compare this already grin-inducing opening number with these two styli!?

●Nagaoka

From the intro, the guitar, bass, and vocals are exquisitely well balanced, while each one sounds realistically rather than becoming a muddled mass! You can feel the fine reverb tails of each instrument, including Paul’s shout in the development section! I mentioned earlier that Paul being on drums is key, but the snare sound in particular is really pleasant! Overall, the sound gives you a sense of the song’s warmth and comfort, creating a feeling of happiness as if you were listening to albums like Pipes of Peace or Egypt Station! Whether it is the instruments or vocals, Nagaoka’s stylus, which conveys the recorded sound directly, does not disappoint!

●100Sounds

The sound puts the vocals more prominently than the guitar, making the storyteller aspect feel more emphasized and giving it a somewhat serious quality. The bass sound in the development section reminds me of a Rickenbacker bass played fingerstyle or with soft strings, bringing “So Bad” from Broad Street to mind! Overall, though, rather than warmth and comfort, I also sense a slightly serious taste like Chaos and Creation in the Backyard! Perhaps this is what makes 100Sounds unique in presenting a more contemporary sound.

2. Lost Horizon

A more relaxed “Flaming Pie”. The chorus somehow seems to have that Jeff Lynne-ish magic that can also be found in other numbers on the album of the same name, while the guitar that comes in during the B section is so quintessentially Paul and cool. So, what happens when we compare this number!?

●Nagaoka

Although the vocals are the main focus, the coolness of the guitar comes through with a good balance! The bass rises in various places, and I feel it brings out the best qualities of this song to the fullest! Could that pleasant-sounding backing chorus be Linda’s shadow? Would that be saying too much...?

●100Sounds

The bass just keeps writhing and writhing! The punchy sound of the drum snare is also incredibly pleasant. When the chorus arrives and the lead vocals and backing vocals suddenly swell up together, is that perhaps one of the pleasures unique to a club-oriented stylus!?

3. Days We Left Behind

Among Paul’s many acoustic-centered songs, this number has a nostalgic quality reminiscent of SP-era folk, like “The Song We Were Singing”. So, what kind of comparison can we hear with a quiet number like this?

●Nagaoka

The vocals and bass stand out, but the acoustic guitar and piano come through just when they need to, and the lingering resonance of the piano is wonderful! It is enough to bring tears to your eyes! The backing vocals are also clear, drawing you deeper and deeper into the wonderful world of pastoral folk! It makes me think of the cover of Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.

●100Sounds

The low end of the acoustic guitar stands out more, and including that little sound, it has a quality that makes you feel Paul’s characteristic playing habits. It reminds me of “Bip Bop Link” from Wild Life, while at the same time there are startling moments that feel like listening to “Jenny Wren” from Chaos and Creation in the Backyard!

4. Ripples in a Pond

A 21st-century version of “The Man” that wouldn’t feel out of place on Pipes of Peace (?)! The forceful development section, which also brings “Girl Friend” to mind, is enough to make any solo fan grin, and personally, this may be one of my top two tracks! I’m really looking forward to comparing this one!

●Nagaoka

How clear each instrument sounds in this intro! The realism of the vocals and snare is also wonderful, but especially the vividness of the acoustic guitar and strings! It sounds as though George Martin’s breath is being brought to bear on it just like on the works of the 1980s, and I’m transported back to the innocent feeling I had when I first started listening to Paul!! If you want to fill your heart with that ‘tug & peace’ feeling, perhaps this is the stylus for you!

●100Sounds

The bass and drums stand out, and especially in the aforementioned forceful development section, the sound of the bass and drums seemingly having a blast is simply fun, without needing any explanation! Rather than listening to it nostalgically, perhaps 100Sounds is all about presenting it as rock music of today!

5. Mountain Top

Following the track that felt like a 21st-century version of “The Man”, almost as if you could cut loose with Itako Michael, comes this thoroughly exhilarating pop number that seems to take psychedelia as its base, add reggae, glam rock, and alternative rock, then crush the whole thing together! This one certainly seems worth comparing! No, actually, maybe this is the best track after all…

●Nagaoka

The effects on the vocals and drums really hit the spot, and it is a sound packed with ’60s flavor that even makes my imagination run wild: “Is Paul consciously playing like Ringo?” Naturally, this sound quality brings out the acid sensibility to the fullest, easily surpassing the neo-psychedelic bands of the ’80s onward, including XTC’s pseudonymous projects! The guitar at the ending also has a sharp edge that reminds me of Jimmy McCulloch!!

●100Sounds

The vocals sound as though the mix may have been designed to create a Britpop-like effect, while the guitar seems to have a strong grunge image. When the chorus comes around, the entire instrumentation becomes a wonderfully good “muddled mass”! And in the final ending, the bass’s writhing is so tremendous that it brought back memories of the days when I secretly listened to “Night Out” from the phantom unreleased album Cold Cut!

6. Down South

A stripped-down singer-songwriter folk song that sounds like an even simpler version of “Confidante”. Paul’s 83-year-old voice is really good! But with such a simple song, will we actually be able to hear a difference in sound quality between the two styli?

●Nagaoka

You can savor even the way the reverb sits on the vocals, bringing the happiness level to the max! The guitar tone also resonates with a truly deep, deep, beautiful tone. This is the very essence of the pleasure of listening to records!

●100Sounds

The sung parts of “Oh Yeah” and “Rock N Roll” seem to be emphasized, giving even this singer-songwriter performance a hint of the image of a young, rough-and-tumble delinquent boy. It even brings to mind the way he sings “Lavatory Lil”!

7. We Two

Once again, we get a song with a Jeff Lynne-ish, or Flaming Pie-ish, sound. This song was reportedly recorded simply on four tracks, so what kind of difference will we hear between the two styli?

●Nagaoka

The vocals and the acoustic guitars on the left and right are incredibly clear! It is a sound quality that allows you to savor the bass and even the Mellotron sounding in the distance.

●100 Sounds

One of the key highlights you can hear on this album. Paul’s drumming stands out, which is enough to make any solo fan grin. Am I the only one who feels like listening to “Spies Like Us”?

That brings us to the end of our comparison of Side A using the two M44G-compatible styli, but what will the ‘effectiveness comparison’ of Side B be like!? With tracks featuring Ringo and plenty more, there is still so much to look forward to!!